Virginia Brabender Publishes Resource for Psychological Assessment

Dr. Virginia Brabender

Dr. Virginia Brabender, a professor in the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology
at Widener University, recently co-edited Handbook of Gender and Sexuality in Psychological
Assessment, an aid that will provide a more detailed understanding of how gender and
sexuality shape experiences.

Released on February 18, the Handbook of Gender and Sexuality in Psychological Assessment, was edited with Joni Mihura, an associate professor in psychology at the University
of Toledo. The Handbook of Gender and Sexuality in Psychological Assessment is also an informative resource for researchers who want to identify important areas
of investigation at the intersection of psychological assessment with gender and sexuality.

“Psychological assessment provides critical information to planning interventions
to both treat psychological problems and assist individuals in living more fully,”
Brabender said. “This handbook serves as a guideline to help increase the skillset
of assessors in the realm of gender and sexuality so they can provide proper interventions.”

Brabender’s involvement with assessment in the practice and science of psychology
has been prominent during her time as a professor. Her scholarship has been in the
areas of psychological assessment, group psychotherapy, as well as ethical and training
issues for psychologists. The importance of assessment is demonstrated in specialized
areas like forensic, neuropsychological, and psycho-educational applications, all
which Widener offers to its students in the doctor of psychology program that Brabender
teaches in.

The handbook is divided into six sections: gender and sexuality are discussed in their
relation to different psychological methods of assessment; various psychological disorders;
special considerations for children, adolescents, and older adults; important training
and ethical considerations; as well as several in-depth case discussions.

Brabender is on the editorial board of the Journal for Personality Assessment and a past president of the Society for Personality Assessment and Section IX (Assessment
Psychology) of the Society of Clinical Psychology. She was also the co-winner of the
1994 Walter G. Klopfer Award Distinguished Contribution to the Literature in Personality
Assessment Society for Personality Assessment in collaboration with Psychological
Assessment Resources, Inc.

Mihura also teaches personality assessment and supervises an advanced assessment practicum.
She currently serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Personality Assessment and Rorschachiana and is one of the developers of a new Rorschach system – the Rorschach Performance Assessment System.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to
social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal
attention, leadership development, and experiential learning are key components of
the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is
comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional
and pre-professional curricula leading to associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s and
doctoral degrees. The university’s campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pa.,
and Wilmington, Del. are proud to be a tobacco-free. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.